Panthers’ rally falls just short

March 15, 2013

NEW YORK - A poor opening half kept Pittsburgh from having a chance at a last long run in the Big East tournament.

The 17th-ranked Panthers fell behind by 13 points at halftime and even a tough run near the end of the game wasn't enough to avoid a 62-59 loss to No. 19 Syracuse on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.

The fourth-seeded Panthers used a 10-3 run to get within 58-57 with 30 seconds left but Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams didn't miss from the free throw line to keep the fifth-seeded Orange in front to the end.

"Obviously, we're disappointed in the loss, but I'm proud of how our guys fought back in the second half," Panthers coach Jamie Dixon said. "We obviously dug a hole for ourselves in the first half, but I could see how hard we played and the effort.

"Simply put, the first half we didn't play our defense. That dug the hole for us. That's why we were where we're at and why we weren't able to make up the 13-point deficit."

James Southerland and Carter-Williams kept Syracuse's run at one more title going at Madison Square Garden.

Both schools are leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference next season. They didn't disappoint the sellout crowd, providing one last great game before they head south.

"We know that this means a lot to us, as a basketball team and as a program," Syracuse's Brandon Triche said. "This can very much jump start us to the (NCAA) tournament. So we know how important this Big East tournament is."

The fifth-seeded Orange (25-8) advanced to the semifinals against top-seeded Georgetown, which is one of the seven Catholic schools that have left their football counterparts behind in an attempt to have a basketball-centric conference.

"The doubleheader that's going to be here tomorrow night will be a great basketball night, I think," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "It's a great way for this league to go out. We got to the semis in this tournament a lot, I think over 20 times, and it's great to be able to do that because it means you played pretty good, and that's what we're trying to do, play good and get ready for, unfortunately, the only thing that matters, next week."

This will be the 14th time the schools have met in the Big East tournament and the Hoyas hold the series lead at 7-6.

Southerland had a second straight great effort from 3-point range and Carter-Williams scored Syracuse's last seven points against Pittsburgh in a game in which the final 1:15 was a great way for the programs to play one last time in the Big East.

"We were prepared to come into this tournament and win," Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall said. "I was disappointed, but I guess now we've got to focus on the NCAA tournament. As you saw in the second half, we played our style of basketball, as Coach said. ... We'll dwell on it for a few hours tonight, and then we have to move on."

Southerland had 20 points as he did in the second-round win over Seton Hall and again almost all the points came from beyond the 3-point arc. The senior forward was 6 for 6 on 3s against Pittsburgh - the Big East tournament record for 3s without a miss - a day after going 6 for 9 from beyond the arc against Seton Hall.

Carter-Williams had 11 points and seven assists, taking over for the Orange over the closing minutes. He capped his personal closing run with four free throws - all on 1-and-1s - in the final 28 seconds. The last two free throws that made it 62-57 came after he stole the ball from Pittsburgh's James Robinson near midcourt with 10 seconds left.

Lamar Patterson had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Panthers (24-8), who will certainly receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament but won't be able to add a third Big East title.

"Obviously, we wanted to win this tournament, and now we're going to be going home, and it's disappointing," Dixon said. "I think that was really the main focus of ours, we were here to win today and win this tournament. ... We were focused on winning this tournament, and we were focused on winning this game, and now we've got to go focus on getting ready for the NCAA tournament."

With Southerland hitting five 3s, the Orange took a 40-27 halftime lead. Pitt cut the lead to four points twice, and a 10-3 run got the Panthers within 58-57 with 30 seconds to play.

Talib Zanna had a chance to tie the game, but missed the free throw that would have completed a three-point play.

"I saw a lot from our guys," Dixon said. "I saw what our team is made of in that second half."

Syracuse, which was 9 of 15 from 3-point range against Seton Hall, was 12 of 19 (63.2 percent) from there against the Panthers. The Orange came into the game ninth in the conference in 3-point shooting at 32.0 percent.

C.J. Fair, who was 3 of 5 on 3s, had 13 points for the Orange, who have won three of their last seven. Triche added 12 points for Syracuse, which has won five Big East titles, the last in 2006.

Woodall had 12 points for Pittsburgh, which had been to the championship game seven of the last 12 years.

"It obviously came down to last possessions and plays," Dixon said. "I think it was a game that pretty much every one of ours has been like against Syracuse over the years. We've been here 14 years. This game isn't too much different. I think this is why it's been the best league, and games like this typify that."